Women employees have to deal with a lot of challenges to emerge successful in every sector. Although, the times have changed and many set-ups have come up with friendly laws to help their women folk settle in, there is still a lot that needs to be done. Kiran Sharma speaks to experts who have juggled their work and life perfectly to become inspirations for many. They tell you that the key is to stay calm and tackle things in your stride. Prioritising work and life also goes a long way in ensuring your position in the company
Prioritising is the key
It’s a bad bad world in the corporate set-up with everyone gunning for a top position. And if you are a woman eyeing a top spot, be ready to battle it out. The challenges are many and sometimes seem uphill but the trick is to wait and see the tough period through. “It’s not easy for a woman at any level but the main problem is that they have to deal with specific needs, because they are managing multiple roles in their lives.
The task becomes pronounced in the Indian context because after her marriage, the woman is expected to shoulder various responsibilities. It is expected that adjustments have to be made and there are the times when striking a balance becomes crucial. But there are ways to deal with it,” Dr Rachna Mukherjee, the Chief Human Resources Officer at Schneider Electric, India, says.
Mukherjee tells you that while some organisations like Schneider electric are working towards making it easy for women employees, there are many others who lack basic facilities. “We believe that a gender balance workforce is key for any business to thrive. So, it should be the management’s look out that they create equal opportunities for both men and women,” she tells you. Having spent 29 years in this industry without taking a break, Mukherjee agrees that the work environment in a set-up plays a crucial role for any woman.
“Small things like flexible work timings a good maternity leave period and some other concessions to new mothers could go a long way in retaining efficient women workforce in an office,” she states.
What has changed in all these yearsIJ “A lot of positive changes have taken place and I am glad. When I forayed into this space, it was male dominant. Working mothers was a comparatively new buzz word and not many women were keen to step out of their habitats to pursue a career. But now, the times have changed. Women want to be socially and economically independent. They are willing to explore new avenues. Which is a good thing,” Mukherjee says.
The balance, she says, is a difficult one to achieve — one needs to prioritise and stick to it. “Even when I started, there were many obstacles. But I was very clear from the onset that I wouldn't compromise on my career. I was determined to strive for excellence and was willing to put in more hours at work to meet deadlines etc. On the personal front, I was a committed mother too,” she says.
Her advise to fellow women colleagues — “First, women need to believe in themselves. They should have faith in the choices they have made. Second, they have to draw the line between commitment and professionalism. And third most important thing is to priortise,” she says.
The other thing that Mukherjee tells you that comes in handy in a corporate world is to have a go-to friend. Seeking help from fellow colleagues and experts or seniors is not a bad thing.
“You are not a superwoman who can handle a lot of things. There are aspects in your job that you may not be aware of. So, go take help. It’s not a bad thing to ask someone to explain the workings or functions,” she tells you, adding that quitting at the drop of the hat is not an option. It is what people who do not have faith in themselves end up doing.
Apart from these common hindrances that a woman faces in any field, there is the big issue of pressure situation and how to handle it. “Every organsiation has this storm in a tea-cup situation that arises every now and then. The best way to deal with pressure situations is to keep calm and take things in your stride. Once you understand what the problem is, the solution becomes simpler,” she concludes with this positive note.
Hardwork is essential
The hospitality sector has been by far the most favoured destination for women employees and the reasons are varied. Be it as a receptionist, managers, housekeepers, chef, waiters, travel assistants, or public relations personnel — there is something for everyone to do. It is a lucrative option for women because they feel they can attend to the problems that arise in this sector better than their male counterparts. Plus there is that ‘home-like’ ambience which plays a huge role in attracting women to this sector.
Jaiywanti Dugal, the food director at Azure hospitality group, strongly feels that women can thrive and can create a niche for themselves in this very industry. But she doesn’t agree that women have an edge over men. “It’s not true. Women might find it conducive to work in this sector but men are as good,” Dugal says. As a food director with the Azure Hospitality Group, Dugal has been dishing out healthy food for eons now. “The hospitality profession, especially the culinary side, allows you to be creative and innovate at various stages. Constant ideas and new changes keep me occupied and passionate about my work,” she says.
Apart from working as a full time employee in the hospitality profession, many housewifes have come out as an entrepreneur and set up their own company. Some of them are working as freelancers and are taking up projects according to their convenience. “My love for food is the sole reason for my being in this industry. I was earlier involved in corporate lunches and catering and then Mamagoto presented itself as an exciting opportunity,” Dugal says.
Her advise to aspiring candidatesIJ “You should be passionate about whatever you want to do and have the perseverance to give it your best shot. It’s an extremely competitive industry and needs a lot of hardwork. Be prepared to work your way up,” she tells you.
Equal opportunities
Work-life balance seems to be the trickiest thing in the corporate set-up but it is something women have learnt to juggle over the years. Not only are today’s women aiming for a better family life but striving to create an identity in the professional world and be financially independent too.
“Five simple rules have worked for me and which constitutes my advise for young women. Have faith. Keep trying. Keep it simple. laugh at Problems and Stay as youthful as a kid,” Shallu Jindal, co-chairperson of the JSPl foundation, tells you.
For her, to be a successful working woman, all one needs to do is to follow their passion and have strong determination to make it happen.
“It is with sheer hard work and total faith in God that I am able to achieve balance between my work and life. I believe that a little bit everyday goes a long way in accomplishing things and it’s also very important what you do everyday more than what you do once in a while. I also prioritise and try to multi-task and believe in quality of action,” Jindal says.
As per Census 2011, the workforce participation rate for women is 25.51 per cent against 53.26 per cent for men. Only 20.5 percent women were employed in the organised sector in 2011 with 18.1 percent working in the public sector and 24.3 percent in the private sector.
Jindal spells out one of the reasons for this disparity — “most women have difficult choices to make juggling between home and professional front. Since the biological clock and the career clock are in total conflict with one another, doing a balancing act is extremely challenging. I believe that its only when we do what we love and enjoy that we won’t treat it as a job and flourish. Women are great multi-taskers and only we have the strength and God’s blessings to juggle and don various roles of being a mother, wife, daughter-in-law, etc,” she tells you.
With more and more companies employing women, a lot of special policies have been made to make it more conducive for them. “It’s good to see that the job market is becoming more woman-friendly. Even the Government is focusing on women empowerment and it was heartening to see the number of women from the Defence sector participating in this year’s Republic Day,” Jindal says, adding that safety of women is the biggest hindrance and once this is addressed, a lot more women will start venturing out of their homes for work.
By giving them equal opportunity at par with men, Jindal believes the organisation would have done its duties. “Women are not a weak species that they need special privileges or reservations to move forward in life. They just need equal opportunity to prove themselves,” she says.
Speaking of her love for classical dancing and children, Jindal says: “I have set-up Jindal centers for Arts and Culture in Delhi and Angul (Odisha). These centers will also offer scholarships to underprivileged students so as to enable them to take arts as a profession. As the co-chairperson of the Jindal Steel and Power ltd (JSPl) foundation, we spearhead initiatives in the field of health, education, and women empowerment, vocational training etc to improve the lives of the people in and around our areas of operation.”